Portable powder delivery system and method

ABSTRACT

A vehicle to carry a powered medication that addresses the limitations of the prior art. It includes a system and method. A powder delivery system includes a first panel and a second panel coupled together around a periphery of the panels to form a sealed void therebetween, each the panel having a width and length about equal to a standard credit card width and length, respectively; and a powder, disposed in the void, having a quantity at least about equal to an active dose of the powder, wherein a thickness of the panels with the powder disposed therebetween is not greater than about 0.1 inches and more preferably not greater than about 0.03 inches.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 29/412,122 filed Jan. 31, 2012 entitled “Portable Package forPowdered Medicine” which is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/426,417 filed Apr. 20, 2009 entitled “PortablePowder Delivery System and Method” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,376,140 issuedFeb. 19, 2013, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to purchase over the counter medications in pill form.Typically these medications are sold in a box or in a single or few usedose package containing a small number (e.g., 1-2) pills or tablets.

Currently there are no medications in pill, tablet, or capsule form thatare convenient for a user to take with them whenever leaving the home,office, or drug store where these medicines may be generally available.Moreover, the odds of the user having a serious medical emergency whenout of the home or office or drug store where these medicines may begenerally available can be significant, and thus there is an importantneed for a way to conveniently, unobtrusively and easily carry such“emergency medications” on the person, so that they have medicationaccessible in the case of emergency (specifically (for example), aspirinfor heart attacks, diphenhydramine HCL for allergic reactions tofood/insect allergies, calcium carbonate for acid reflux, loperamide fordiarrhea, ibuprofen for joint/muscle aches, and the like.)

Many users are told that it is crucially important to carry aspirin atall times, as taking an aspirin at the first sign of a heart attack maysignificantly increase a chance of living after the heart attack. Havingno better option, many users carry two small aspirin pills, wrapped incellophane, in their wallet. However, many users express the sentimentthat this solution is very inconvenient and undesirable, as the pillsare generally bulky and do not fit into a wallet easily or comfortably.Further, the cellophane unravels and is not waterproof, so perspirationfrom sitting on a wallet in hot weather may make them “milky” andunsanitary, and they can fall out of the wallet when the wallet isopened. Furthermore, if one has a medical emergency, it may delayconsumption of the asprin if it difficult to locate a suitable beverageto aid in swallowing the pill. There is a further concern that themedicine wrapped in this fashion may be more easily contaminated as themedicine is not sealed. Then there is some concern with tamper-evidenceand child-safety.

What is needed is a vehicle to carry a powered medication that addressesthe limitations of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vehicle to carry a powered medicationthat addresses the limitations of the prior art. It includes a systemand method. A powder delivery system includes a first panel and a secondpanel coupled together around a periphery of the panels to form a sealedvoid therebetween, each the panel having a width and length about equalto a standard credit card width and length, respectively; and a powder,disposed in the void, having a quantity at least about equal to anactive dose of the powder, wherein a thickness of the panels with thepowder disposed therebetween is not greater than about 0.1 inches andmore preferably not greater than about 0.03 inches.

A powder delivery method, includes (a) disposing a powder within asealed void formed by sealing edges of two powdercontamination-resistant panels together, the panels generally about thesize of a credit card and the panels with the powder disposed within thesealed void having a thickness not greater than about 0.03 inches, thepanels are resistant to tearing, puncturing, and moisture while beingflexible and pliable wherein a construction of the panels with thepowder disposed therebetween retains a flat profile that further resistspremature access to the sealed void and exposure of the powderresponsive to compressive forces applied to the panels, the panelsincluding at least two tear-initiation notches for facilitating openingthe sealed void to access the powder disposed therein; (b) tearing thepanels using one of the tear-initiation notches to expose the void andaccess the powder, and (c) ingesting the powder from the void.

The present invention offers a powder delivery system and method that isconvenient for a man or woman to carry and have available anytime. Theuser has confidence that the powder will be available in an ingestiblecondition free from contaminants with reduced chances of environmentaldegradation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a powder delivery system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods thatprovide a vehicle to carry a powered medication that addresses thelimitations of the prior art. The following description is presented toenable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventionand is provided in the context of a patent application and itsrequirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and thegeneric principles and features described herein will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the principles and features describedherein.

In a preferred embodiment, an embodiment provides a package as thin as acredit card, that is waterproof, pliable, and easy to fit in one'swallet so they may carry it on their person at all times in case ofemergency. The medicine in the packet would be in powder form, so thatit would be absorbed much faster than a pill that needs to be swallowedand digested. Providing a durable, pliable, and waterproof sealedcontainer improves the quality of the powder when delivered. With such acontainer, contamination and moisture is reduced so that spoilage and“clumping” is virtually eliminated. The medication will easily slide outof the packet when opened and the user has more confidence and is betterable to depend upon the availability of the medicine should there be anemergency. Furthermore, being a powder more users will be able to ingestthe dose without requiring a liquid.

An embodiment of the invention includes a pair of panels generally sizedlike a standard credit card size (2⅛″×3⅜″ or 54×85.6 mm, with athickness of 30 mils or 0.03″), so that it would easily fit into acredit card slot within a standard wallet. At this size, there issufficient volume within the card so that normal dosage quantitiesdistributed within the packet in powder form ensures that the card isthin enough to still fit in a wallet card slot without bulk. It is notjust thin, but this embodiment of the invention would also be flexibleand pliable, so that it would not be bulky or cause discomfort withinthe wallet, and would not split or break open when sat upon. It may bemade from a combination of foil and plastic so that it may be torn opento access the medication, but still durable enough to remain intactwithin a wallet, and additionally be environmentally protective (e.g.,waterproof and sanitary) in order to preserve quality and efficacy ofthe medication within. The packaging is preferably inert so as to notinteract with the medication within. A preferred embodiment provides fora disposable, single dosage solution that is very inexpensive tomanufacture while being effective and efficient for the end-user.

It is believed that three times the standard thickness of a credit card(˜0.1 inch) makes the product too rigid and subject to bursting orleakage when manipulated. An appeal of the present invention is that itis thin and flexible, capable of being unobtrusively stored in a walled.A measure of flexibility is that the package be able to be folded inhalf without a rupturing, tearing, or leakage.

Some embodiments include an optional removable “hangtag” portion whichallows it to be easily displayed on a rack or display in a retailsetting. This optional hangtag portion is able to be torn off withoutinadvertently opening the package. With the hangtag removed, the packageis about the size of a credit card. Additionally, this embodimentpreferably includes two tear notches, so that in the case of anemergency, the user has more than one chance to open the package and getto the medicine within. This card could possibly be printed with logos,advertising information, or public service information which is a uniqueway to promote a brand by having their logo within one's wallet.

Some medications have small dosage amounts, and it is possible to mixthe active ingredient with excipients (or fillers) to add more substanceto the medication (so the user does not think it is empty), as well asto improve the taste of the medicine/active ingredients, as well asdesign the ingredients to be easily soluble in water to make it easy toswallow the medication.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a powder delivery system 100. System 100includes a pair of panels 105 sealed around a periphery to form a void110. A set of pre-defined scores 115 permit an optional hangtag 120 tobe separated from the sealed panels 105 prior to installation of thesealed panels 105 within a wallet or other storage.

At least two tear-initiation notches 125 are disposed in the sealedperiphery of system 100. A powder 130 is disposed within void 110.

System 100 is generally sized to not be greater than a credit card,including a thickness. It is important that the panels be strong,tear-resistant, and resistant to contamination, while being thin,pliable and flexible all the while being constructed in a way that thepanels or the seal will not burst, tear, or otherwise permit powder 130to prematurely leak out.

Suitable materials for panels 105 include plastic, foil, mylar,laminated/coated paper, combinations of these and other materials thatpreserve and protect the powder appropriate for the application. Thesematerials are easily resistant to tearing, puncturing, wetting, andcontaminating and other environmental degradations. Thus, when it isnecessary to dispense powder 130, it can be a challenge to reliablyexpose void 110 and access powder 130 even in the best of circumstances,and even more challenging in the middle of an emergency situation,particularly when the user believes that a life is in jeopardy.

System 130 includes at least two tear-initiation notches 125 thatprovide redundancy to a user urgently accessing powder 130 during anemergency. In some cases, a tear direction from tear-initiation notch125 is unpredictable and may not properly expose void 110 and exposepowder 130. System 100 includes at least a second notch 125 to improvereliability when accessing powder 130. While two notches are shown, insome applications it may be that a single notch 125 is sufficient. Inother applications, three or more notches may be preferred. A thirdnotch may be added, for example, at an end opposite of the two shownnotches.

Hangtag 120 is optional and permits system 100 to be distributed using awell-known vending solution. Units of system 100 may be available inconvenient form at a check-out or pharmacy in individual units packagedfor resale. The user may detach hangtag 120 from the rest of the powderdelivery system 100 using the scores 115 to avoid risk to prematurelyexposing powder 130. The size of panels 105 with hangtag 120 detached isgenerally about the length and width of a credit card. The thickness,with powder 130, is as thin as possible while preserving the strengthand durability features.

Powder 130 contributes to the flexibility and pliability and resistspromoting bursting in response to compressive loading (e.g., sitting onsystem 100 when installed into a wallet disposed in a back pocket ofuser who sits down). Without a couple of large pills, there are notartificial bumps that can cause discomfort when sat upon.

In operation, a user acquires system 100 (which may include optionalhangtag 120). When hangtag 120 is present, many users will detachhangtag 120 from system 100 using scores 115. They may desirably detachhangtag 120 to reduce the size for more convenient storage in a walletor other container.

In the event that the user desires access to powder 130, such as urgentaccess in case of emergency (e.g., a heart attack and powder 130 is asalicylate acid medicament (e.g., aspirin)), system 100 is removed fromthe wallet. One of tear-initiation notches 125 is used to access void110 and expose powder 130. In the event that powder 130 is not exposed,the second notch 125 is used to expose powder 130.

When powder 130 is exposed, user ingests powder 130 from void 110. Theuser may ingest powder 130 after mixing it with a liquid or othermodality to improve its ingestion. However, being a powder, it may beingested directly from void 110.

Table I below includes some representative examples of dosage/quantitiesof specific powder types that may be included as part of the presentinvention. The table is not exhaustive and the quantity identifies amedically significant dose for a collective of substances for use withsystem 100. The quantities are approximate and are often considered tobe a minimum for a medically significant dose, more powder may be used.In some cases, a filler, flavoring, or other additive may be used toenhance an appeal of the product or of the powder or to promoteeffectiveness or ingestion of the powder. The quantity of powder,together with the panels and construction should not interfere undulywith pliability and flexibility of system 100 to risk a stiffness thatcould cause the package to rupture prematurely when installed into awallet. This thickness may vary depending upon various designconsiderations but should, in general, not be greater than about 0.1inches and more preferably not greater than about 0.03 inches.

TABLE I 650 milligrams of a salicylate drug 150 mg or more of Aspirin(acetylsalicylic acid) for heart attack (or general pain relief) 250 mgor more of Bismuth subsalicylate for upset stomach reliever andanti-diarrheal (also heartburn, indigestion, nausea) 500 mg or more ofCalcium carbonate for use as an antacid 1 mg or more of Loperamide HClfor use as an anti-diarrheal 25 mg or more of Diphenhydramine HCl for anantihistamine and for allergic reaction to foods, insects, or otherallergens 50 mg or more of Dimenhydrinate far prevention and treatmentof symptoms associated with motion sickness (Nausea, Vomiting, andDizziness) 200 mg or more of a Ibuprofen for use as a pain reliever,fever reducer, or treatment of migraine headaches 325 mg or more ofAcetaminophen for use as a pain reliever or fever reducer A combinationof aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine for treatment of headache ormigraine Varying dosages of Sugar (sucrose) for diabetics

The present invention relates to a powder delivery system, and as notedabove, part of the motivation of the present invention is to allow apowder, particularly a medicament, to be safely and conveniently storedand carried in a wallet for access during an emergency. Embodiments ofthe present invention may include a liquid or gel substance, such asthese forms of medicaments.

In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, suchas examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of theinvention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details,or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components,materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-knownstructures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of thepresent invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “anembodiment”, or “a specific embodiment” means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and notnecessarily in all embodiments. Thus, respective appearances of thephrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in a specificembodiment” in various places throughout this specification are notnecessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures, or characteristics of any specificembodiment of the present invention may be combined in any suitablemanner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood thatother variations and modifications of the embodiments of the presentinvention described and illustrated herein are possible in light of theteachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit andscope of the present invention.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted inthe drawings/FIGURES may also be implemented in a more separated orintegrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certaincases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. It isalso within the spirit and scope of the present invention to implement aprogram or code that can be stored in a machine-readable medium topermit a computer to perform any of the methods described above.

Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/FIGURES should beconsidered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwisespecifically noted. Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein isgenerally intended to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated.Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as beingnoted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability toseparate or combine is unclear.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow,“a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein andthroughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and“on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the presentinvention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intendedto be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognizeand appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to thepresent invention in light of the foregoing description of illustratedembodiments of the present invention and are to be included within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

Thus, while the present invention has been described herein withreference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification,various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoingdisclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances somefeatures of embodiments of the invention will be employed without acorresponding use of other features without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications maybe made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essentialscope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that theinvention not be limited to the particular terms used in followingclaims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within thescope of the appended claims. Thus, the scope of the invention is to bedetermined solely by the appended claims.

1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A powder medicine delivery system, comprising: afirst panel and a second panel coupled together around a periphery ofsaid panels to form a sealed void therebetween; and a powder medicine,disposed in said void, having a quantity at least about equal to anactive dose of said powder medicine; at least one additive disposed insaid void with said powder medicine; wherein said panels are flexibleand a thickness of said panels with said powder medicine disposedtherebetween is not greater than about 0.1 inches, and wherein thepanels with said powder medicine disposed therebetween have a length notgreater than about 3⅜ inches and a width not greater than about 2⅛inches.
 16. The powder delivery system of claim 15 wherein said panelsare made from one or more elements from the group consisting of mylar,foil, plastic, laminated paper, and combinations thereof.
 17. The powderdelivery system of claim 15 further comprising at least twotear-initiation notches for facilitating opening said sealed void toaccess said powder medicine disposed therein.
 18. The powder deliverysystem of claim 17 wherein said panels are generally waterproof.
 19. Thepowder delivery system of claim 15 wherein said dose is selected fromone or more of group consisting of at least about 650 milligrams of asalicylate drug, at least about 150 milligrams of acetylsalicylic acid;at least about 250 milligrams of bismuth subsalicylate, at least about500 milligrams of calcium carbonate; at least about 1 milligramloperamide HCl, at least about 25 milligrams diphenhydramine HCl, atleast about 50 milligrams dimenhydrinate, at least about 200 milligramsnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, at least about 325 milligramsacetaminophen, at least about a medically significant dose ofacetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen and caffeine, and at least about amedically significant dose of sucrose, and combinations thereof.
 20. Thepowder delivery system of claim 15 further comprising a detachablehangtag coupled to said coupled panels.
 21. The powder delivery systemof claim 15 wherein a construction of said panels with said powdermedicine disposed therebetween retains a flat profile that furtherresists premature access to said sealed void and exposure of said powdermedicine responsive to compressive forces applied to said panels.
 22. Amedicine powder delivery method, comprising: (a) providing a sealed voidby sealing edges of two powder contamination-resistant panels together,said panels having a length not greater than about 3⅜ inches and a widthnot greater than about 2⅛ inches; (b) providing a medicine powder withinthe sealed void; and (c) providing at least one additive in said voidwith said medicine powder, said panels with said medicine powder andsaid at least one additive disposed within said sealed void having athickness not greater than about 0.1 inches, wherein said panels areresistant to tearing, puncturing, and moisture while being flexible andpliable and wherein a construction of said panels with said powderdisposed therebetween retains a flat profile that further resistspremature access to said sealed void and exposure of said medicinepowder responsive to compressive forces applied to said panels.
 23. Themethod of claim 22 wherein said medicine powder is selected from one ormore of group consisting of at least about 650 milligrams of asalicylate drug, at least about 150 milligrams of acetylsalicylic acid;at least about 250 milligrams of bismuth subsalicylate, at least about500 milligrams of calcium carbonate; at least about 1 milligramloperamide HCl, at least about 25 milligrams diphenhydramine HCl, atleast about 50 milligrams dimenhydrinate, at least about 200 milligramsnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, at least about 325 milligramsacetaminophen, at least about a medically significant dose ofacetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen and caffeine, and at least about amedically significant dose of sucrose, and combinations thereof.
 24. Amedication package, comprising: a first flexible panel and a secondflexible panel coupled together around a periphery of said flexiblepanels to form a sealed void therebetween; a powder medication disposedin said void, having a quantity at least about equal to an active doseof said powder medication; and at least one additive disposed in saidvoid with said powder medication; wherein a thickness of the medicationpackage with said powder medication and said at least one additivedisposed therein is not greater than about 0.1 inches.
 25. Themedication package of claim 24 wherein said first and second panels areresistant to tearing, puncturing, and moisture.
 26. The medicationpackage of claim 24 wherein said first and second panels are made fromone or more elements from the group consisting of mylar, foil, plastic,laminated paper, and combinations thereof.
 27. The medication packageclaim 24 wherein said dose is selected from one or more of groupconsisting of at least about 650 milligrams of a salicylate drug, atleast about 150 milligrams of acetylsalicylic acid; at least about 250milligrams of bismuth subsalicylate, at least about 500 milligrams ofcalcium carbonate; at least about 1 milligram loperamide HCl, at leastabout 25 milligrams diphenhydramine HCl, at least about 50 milligramsdimenhydrinate, at least about 200 milligrams non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drug, at least about 325 milligrams acetaminophen, atleast about a medically significant dose of acetylsalicylic acid,acetaminophen and caffeine, and at least about a medically significantdose of sucrose, and combinations thereof.
 28. The method of claim 22further comprising providing a detachable hangtag coupled to saidcoupled panels.
 29. The medication package of claim 24 wherein thepanels have a width not greater than about 2⅛ inches and a length notgreater than about 3⅜ inches.
 30. The medication package of claim 24further comprising a detachable hangtag coupled to said coupled panels.31. The method of claim 22 wherein a quantity of said medicine powder isat least about equal to an active dose of said powder medicine.
 32. Themethod of claim 22 wherein said panels are made from one or moreelements from the group consisting of mylar, foil, plastic, laminatedpaper, and combinations thereof.